Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) occurs when there is damage or compression to the cauda equina, a bundle of nerves at the lower end of the spinal cord. This nerve compression can impair function in your lower body and result in permanent paralysis. The onset of symptoms of CES requires urgent medical attention because proper diagnosis and immediate treatment are imperative to reduce the chances of severe disability and/or death.

When CES is correctly diagnosed it can be treated effectively. Oftentimes, however, CES is not properly diagnosed in time, which is a serious medical mistake that can cause physical, emotional and financial suffering for the entirety of the victim’s life. Families of the victim are affected as well because of the severe disability this syndrome causes.

Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome

Patients who have Cauda Equina Syndrome may exhibit any or all of the following symptoms:

Loss or impairment of bowel and/or bladder function or control

Numbness or weakness in the pelvic area, buttocks, genitals, legs, or feet

Severe pain in the back, buttocks, pelvic area, legs or feet

If your loved one is complaining of these symptoms, it is crucial that you get him or her to an emergency room as soon as possible. You should even ask the treating physician if CES is a possible diagnosis, especially if he or she never even mentions it. If a physician does not order the tests to detect CES, then you may have a medical malpractice case.

Causes of Cauda Equina Syndrome

There are numerous causes to CES, some of which are listed below:

Inflammatory conditions

Infectious conditions

Tumors

Disc herniation

Spinal stenosis

Back fracture

Gun shot or stab wound

If you have suffered due to medical negligence or malpractice because a serious medical condition was not properly diagnosed in time, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim on your hands.

If you live in New Jersey, Philadelphia or a surrounding area and feel your CES was not caught in time due to a doctor’s negligence, please contact the experienced, compassionate and knowledgeable medical malpractice attorneys at Weiss & Paarz P.C. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

A spinal cord injury can be the result of a sudden blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. When bone fragments or ligaments bruise and tear the spinal cord, a devastating injury can be the result. Although it is rare that the spinal cord is actually severed, injuries to the spinal cord are life-altering and life-threatening.

Spinal cord injuries are categorized as complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means the spinal cord still has some function and victims of this type of injury retain some motor or sensory functions. A complete spinal cord injury means there is a total loss of motor or sensory function below the level of the injury. Emergency medical treatment at the time of the injury and aggressive care and rehabilitation can minimize the damage to the nervous system and restore limited abilities in some cases, but there is no doubt an injury to the spinal cord is considered a catastrophic injury.

Spinal cord injuries have many and varied causes from automobile accident injuries to falls, sport-related injuries and criminal assaults. The emotional, physical and financial toll on the victims and their loved ones is immeasurable. The financial cost of medical treatment and continuing care for victims of a spinal cord injury can total hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a spinal cord injury, please contact the expert spinal cord injury attorneys at Weiss & Paarz, P.C. today located in the New Jersey and metropolitan Philadelphia area.

Living with a spinal cord injury can be mentally, physically and financially challenging, both for the victim as well as the victim’s family. While paralysis comes to mind for many people when they hear of spinal cord injuries, there are a whole host of problems a person can experience as a result of such an injuries.

Possible effects of spinal cord injury

Any combination of the following post-injury symptoms can make daily life difficult for a person suffering from spinal cord injury:

Motor loss or loss of sensation below the injury site, which can include partial or full paralysis

Impaired bladder or bowel functions, including incontinence and infections

Irregular blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature

Sexual dysfunction

Pain

Difficulty breathing

Muscle spasms

Lung infections

Causes of spinal cord injury

Any type of traumatic blow, laceration or bruising of the spinal cord can result in a spinal cord injury. When the spinal cord cells or attached nerve fibers become damaged, the flow of information in the central nervous system is blocked. As a result, the brain is unable to properly send and receive signals to help the body function properly. Common causes for spinal cord injury include: